Visions Album Review And Band Interview

BritEvents' Lucy Middleton catches up with Dave Evans of up-and-coming metal band Visions to chat about their debut album 'Home', their musical influences, the future of metal, and takes their first album for a spin to find out what they're all about.

Visions album review and band interview

By Lucy Middleton

I came across Visions playing live in The Mosh Lives European tour and I was fascinated by the unique hybrid of metal they have created, along with their impressive technical ability.

With successful tours alongside metal giants including Johnny Truant, Emmure, War From a Harlot's Mouth and Iwrestledabearonce; Visions have quickly proven themselves as some of the strongest modern metal talent that Britain has on offer, and all in just two years of their formation.

With their debut release "Home" out July 18th and their upcoming Euroblast festival appearance in October, I thought it would be a great opportunity to catch up with bassist, Dave Evans.

How would you describe Visions in 5 words?

5 guys playing progressive tunes

Your debut album "Home" is being released this month, how do you feel it turned out as a whole?

Every artist will tell you they're never completely happy with how their records turn out, and I think that's always a good thing, as it will (hopefully) make you improve your game with each and every record, trying to achieve that unattainable perfect record. However, we're all very happy with the way in turned out, considering we had various problems with the recording of this album. Massive thanks to Paul Ortiz of Chimp Spanner for stepping in, being our saviour and mixing it.

Are you excited about playing Euroblast?

For sure! Definitely the best collective line up on a show we've ever played. It's also our first time playing in Europe, so we're looking forward to see how our German compadres do things!

Who are your biggest influences?

We all have pretty varied influences, but collectively the main 3 metal bands that influence all of us are The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sikth and Between the Buried and Me. Stuff that's progressive, but not for the sake of being showy and technical.

How do you think the metal scene is going to progress in the future?

I have no idea, and I think that's the great thing about it. We've got this new wave of digital progressive metal players, and thanks to technology, they can produce great sounding stuff from the comfort and ease of their bedrooms. There's some really original stuff going on if you look around for it.

You're a fresh-faced, young and successful band - do you have any advice for other young people aspiring to make it in the industry?

Just play what you enjoy playing, and don't concern yourself too much with trends and fads, just be real and hopefully people will recognise and respect it.

Visions "Home" album review

A statement of promising talent, Home is a refreshing combination of hardcore and progressive tech metal that makes such bands as Bullet for My Valentine and Avenged Sevenfold sound like choir boys.

The band's seemingly ceaseless energy is prominent throughout the album and their vigor is one of their greatest qualities, whether on stage or in the studio.

Vocalist Daniel Bareford blends heart-felt, well placed screams with melodic singing that is a welcome change from the start-to-finish, headache-inducing screams associated with pure hardcore.

The vocals are further testament to why their unique metal mix works so well, savouring all that's great from the two established genres and filling the void left behind by defunct band SikTh.

The first track of the album, "Attentive; Continuum", sets the scene. Luring you into a false sense of security at the start with dainty guitar work, the abrupt descent into scream-driven chaos is an epic one - a move typical of progressive tech metal but one that works.

"Machines", complete with powerful guitar tapping and sweet harmonies that really grabs your attention, will quickly become a firm favourite. Another track worth mentioning is "Into the Sun" which is reminiscent of Protest the Hero or Circles.

Excellent production work by Monuments and Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner) make this is a great sounding album. However - and this is a minor fault - the talented bassist's parts are sometimes lost where drive is needed most.

On the whole, Visions offer a great example of solid guitar and bass, plus strong vocals with an exceptional drummer to tie it all together, and Home is sure to strike the right chords for tech-loving modern metal fans.

Home will be available to purchase July 18 and can be bought through the Basick Records online store and fans can keep up to date with the band's latest news by liking the Visions official Facebook page.